California is the top state in the country for dental assisting employment, according to the Bureau of Labor.
It’s a great place to enter into this rewarding and exciting career!
Trade Schools & Online Programs
Online certification courses are the best way to get started:
Program Benefits
You will learn the skills needed to sit for the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exams by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
How Long Does It Take?
Dental assistants are often capable of completing a training course within just 12 months. You might be able to complete the course above in 6 months depending on your pace of study.
How Much Does it Cost?
Approximately $2,000, and financing is available
What Do You Study?
With any dental assistant program, expect to take the following courses:
- Dental office administration
- Basics of dental terminology and patient issues
- How to scheduling appointments with software
- Patient records retrieval and history
- Bookkeeping, billing and recall systems
- Understanding claim forms
- Industry coding
More Local Programs
- Anaheim, Ontario, Los Angeles
- Lancaster, Bakersfield, Fresno, Salida, Ontario, Pleasant Hill, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Mirage, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, Santa Maria, Stockton, Temecula, Hesperia, Visalia
- Bakersfield
- Canyon Country, Oxnard
- San Francisco
- Garden Grove, North Hollywood, San Bernardino, San Diego
- Glendale, West Covina, San Diego, Bakersfield, Riverside
- San Jose, Concord, Fresno, Modesto, Sacramento, Van Nuys
- Paramount
- Bakersfield, Lancaster, Temecula
- Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Palm Desert, Vacaville, Visalia
- Panorama City
- West Covina, Pomona, Van Nuys,, Glendale, Riverside, Anaheim, Long Beach, San Diego, Bakersfield
- Chula Vista, San Marcos
- San Jose
- Bakersfield, Chula Vista, Fresno, Garden Grove, Gardena, Huntington Park, Oceanside, Ontario, Reseda, Riverside, Sacramento, Stockton, West Covina
- Bakersfield, Concord, Fremont, Hayward, Sacramento, San Jose, South San Francisco
American Career College (Rating: 3.2 of 5)
American Career College offers a 10-month Dental Assisting diploma program delivered in a blended format, requiring only two days of in-person instruction per week with the remainder completed online. Students gain 55.0 quarter credits through a curriculum that includes 160 hours of real-world externship experience and specialized training in coronal polishing, radiography, and CPR. Based on local Google reviews and the program's clinical focus, graduates are equipped with a diploma and the hands-on skills necessary to assist with procedures and manage patient records in professional dental settings.
Carrington College
Carrington's Dental Assisting certificate takes about 36 weeks: 300 lecture, 360 lab and 180 externship hours, with lectures online and labs on campus. At the 10 California campuses approved by the Dental Board of California, graduates can take the state's Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam; Carrington names no CODA accreditation for the program. Sacramento and San Jose also offer an associate degree version. At Bakersfield, CA the certificate (45 weeks there) cost $24,738 in total for 2025 starts; other campuses differ.
Central California Dental Academy (Rating: 5.0 of 5)
Central California Dental Academy’s Dental Assisting Program prepares students for a professional dental career in just 16 weeks, blending online lectures with hands-on training in a modern dental facility. The $3,800 program includes certifications in CPR, Radiation Safety, Infection Control, and the Dental Practice Act, and accepts new students weekly, with class sizes limited to 12 for personalized instruction. Graduates leave with all necessary credentials to begin working immediately as a dental assistant, supported by flexible 0% interest payment plans.
Charter College
Charter College's 10-month dental assisting certificate combines online coursework with campus labs and ends with a 180-hour externship in a local dental office. In California it prepares students for the Dental Board's registered dental assistant (RDA) written exam; in Washington, graduates must register with the Department of Health. The Washington version is 63 quarter credits (850 hours). Charter's 2026 catalog supplement lists a $24,718 total at Oxnard, CA and Pasco, WA.
City College of San Francisco
CCSF's Dental Assisting program leads to an AS or a Certificate of Achievement of 33.5 program units, taken in about 10 months full-time or two years part-time. Clinical practice is at dental sites in San Francisco and Daly City or South San Francisco. The program is CODA-accredited and approved by the Dental Board of California, and the college reports a 100% RDA exam pass rate without giving a year. Admission is separate, and prerequisites are waived for students with a bachelor's degree.
Concorde Career College
Concorde's Dental Assistant diploma takes as few as 9 months and ends with an unpaid externship; Memphis, TN and Southaven, MS also offer an 18-month associate degree. Tennessee's dental board approves the diploma; the program is not CODA-accredited. At Kansas City, admission is first come, first served once applicants score 8 on the Wonderlic. Total charges were $19,513 at Garden Grove, CA (BPPE 2024 report).
Glendale Career College (Rating: 4.0 of 5)
Glendale Career College offers a hands-on Dental Assistant program that can be completed in as little as 9 months, combining classroom theory with a substantial 180-hour clinical externship. Students gain the technical expertise required for chairside assisting and dental imaging while earning essential industry-recognized credentials, including a CPR Certification and Certificates of Completion in X-ray and Coronal Polishing. Based on local Google reviews and the college's specialized curriculum, graduates are well-prepared to support oral health teams across private practices and specialty clinics throughout Southern California and Nevada.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick's Dental Assistant certificate is in its January 2026 catalog for the Modesto campus, and the school is a Dental Board of California approved course provider, but the program is not on the current website menu or Modesto campus page, so confirm it is enrolling. It runs about 34.5 weeks, includes a 180-hour externship and awards Infection Control, Coronal Polishing and Radiation Safety certificates. The school's 2024 BPPE report listed a cost of $14,855.50 and 59.09% completion.
Healthcare Career College (Rating: 3.6 of 5)
Healthcare Career College offers an 11-month Dental Assistant diploma program that combines administrative and clinical training with a built-in clinical externship. The curriculum includes free preparation and testing for nationally accepted certifications, specifically designed to help graduates qualify for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) licensure in California. This comprehensive pathway ensures students are proficient in essential skills like coronal polishing and radiation safety while meeting the Dental Board of California’s educational standards.
High Desert Medical College (Rating: 3.1 of 5)
High Desert Medical College offers a hybrid Dental Assisting certificate program that can be completed in 34 weeks for morning/afternoon students or 42 weeks for those in the evening track. Students gain 780 total clock hours of instruction, including a 160-hour clinical externship, which provides essential real-world experience in a professional dental setting. Upon graduation, students receive a Certificate of Completion and a California X-ray Certification, while also being prepared to sit for additional industry-standard credentials through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).
Milan Institute
Milan teaches Dental Assistant at five campuses: Merced, Palm Desert and Visalia, CA; Sparks, NV; and Amarillo, TX. It runs 36 weeks; the program page says 780 hours and Visalia's state filing 845. Students learn chairside tasks, including dental radiography, take CPR and First Aid, and finish with an externship in an off-site dental office. The school claims no RDA or DANB credential, which matters in California. 2024 placement was 71% at Visalia and 80% at Palm Desert.
National Career College (Rating: 4.5 of 5)
National Career College’s Dental Assistant Program in Los Angeles provides a blend of technical skills and patient care expertise for a rewarding career in the dental industry. The program offers practical experience with state-of-the-art facilities simulating real-world dental offices, flexible scheduling, and financial aid options to accommodate students' needs. Accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), the 9-month program includes a comprehensive curriculum and externship, preparing graduates for a stable and fulfilling career in dental healthcare.
North-West College (Rating: 4.4 of 5)
North-West College offers a hands-on Dental Assistant program at multiple California campuses and online, designed to equip students with clinical skills like X-ray processing, instrument sterilization, and chairside assistance. While specific timeframes vary by schedule, the program is a career-focused technical course that prepares graduates for immediate entry into dental offices, clinics, and health facilities. Based on local Google reviews, students often highlight the accessibility of both day and evening classes as a key benefit for balancing their training with other responsibilities.
Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant certificate takes about nine months, with 280 to 284 classroom hours, 200 to 336 lab hours and a 180- to 240-hour externship; California campuses follow their own curriculum. It prepares students for the NELDA exams, DANB's Radiation Health and Safety exam, and dental radiography registration in Texas and California. It is ABHES accredited, not CODA accredited. Colorado campuses add a 40-hour Expanded Duties course. Total cost was $18,940 at Tucson, AZ (1 Jul 2026); other campuses differ.
San Jose City College (Rating: 4.2 of 5)
San José City College offers an intensive, full-time Dental Assisting program that can be completed in approximately 11 months (spread over one year) for the Certificate of Achievement, with the option to pursue a 60-unit Associate of Science degree. Fully accredited by CODA and approved by the Dental Board of California, the curriculum prepares students for both the California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) national exams. Graduates also earn critical specialized certifications in Radiation Safety, Coronal Polishing, and Pit & Fissure Sealants as part of their comprehensive training.
UEI College
UEI's Dental Assistant diploma is about 34 weeks (800 clock hours on Arizona's listing), ending in a 170-hour externship at an approved local facility. Modules cover dental science and emergencies, dental anatomy, radiography, dental materials, preventive dentistry, specialties, prosthodontics and front-office work. In California it is set up as a route toward Registered Dental Assistant, including radiography and coronal polish; in Arizona it prepares for DANB's CDA exam. Total cost was $19,900 at the Huntington Park, CA campus (2025–26).
Unitek College of Nursing (Rating: 3.7 of 5)
Unitek College’s Dental Assisting program offers a hybrid (in-person and online) curriculum that can be completed in as little as 10 months, providing a robust foundation in both clinical and administrative aspects of dental assisting. The program covers essential skills such as sterilization techniques, dental X-rays, and emergency management, with a focus on hands-on labs and a 200-hour externship.
California Requirements
Once you have completed your education, you need to be apply to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in California.
According to the Dental Board of California:
To Qualify for RDA examinations, you must:
- Graduate from a Board-approved RDA educational program of a minimum of 800 hours (approximately 8 months); or
- Complete at least 15 months of satisfactory (1,280 Hours) paid work experience as a dental assistant with a dentist licensed in one of the states in the United States; or
- Complete a California Department of Education approved 4-month educational program, and 11 months of work experience with a dentist(s) licensed in one of the states of the United States.
Licensed vs Unlicensed
While it is not mandatory in all states that a dental assistant be licensed, many states severely limit the tasks an unlicensed dental assistant may perform.
In California, for example, the job details vary depending on whether a dental assistant is licensed or not.
As would be expected, there is also a difference in the pay you can expect to receive if you are licensed versus not being licensed. This is because the duties can be so varied.
Unlicensed
An unlicensed dental assistant in California may:
- Apply fluoride treatment
- Examine orthodontia for defects
- Expose finished x-rays
- Hand instruments to the dentist or oral surgeon during a procedure
- Handle billing
- Polish finished casts
- Pour casts
- Prepare instrument trays
- Prepare insurance claims
- Ready a patient for procedures
- Schedule appointments and greet patients
- Sterilize equipment
- Suction a patient’s mouth during a procedure
Licensed
Once a dental assistant is licensed, he or she can handle additional responsibilities. Those tasks include:
- Examine teeth for damage using mirrors and other tools
- Handle teeth whitening treatments
- Insert dressings after oral surgeries
- Prepare temporary crowns
- Take patient histories
- Remove stitches
Finally, a licensed dental assistant who passes the state dental examining board’s advanced training program has additional job details. These may include:
- Apply sealants
- Prepare enamel bonding treatments
- Prepare and take teeth impressions for dental appliances
Salary
Below are some average salaries and hourly wages for areas of the state.
| Location | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $23.30 | $48,460 |
| Chico | $24.60 | $51,160 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| El Centro | $26.58 | $55,280 |
| Fresno | $23.93 | $49,770 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $26.09 | $54,270 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $22.78 | $47,390 |
| Madera | $25.20 | $52,420 |
| Merced | $24.68 | $51,340 |
| Modesto | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Napa | $27.61 | $57,430 |
| North Coast | $26.47 | $55,060 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains | $29.29 | $60,930 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $24.69 | $51,360 |
| Redding | $24.61 | $51,190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade | $27.69 | $57,600 |
| Salinas | $26.50 | $55,120 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad | $24.51 | $50,980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | $29.81 | $62,000 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $32.04 | $66,640 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande | $25.49 | $53,010 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $24.40 | $50,760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $27.20 | $56,580 |
| Santa Rosa | $30.13 | $62,680 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $25.25 | $52,520 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield | $28.91 | $60,120 |
| Visalia-Porterville | $24.21 | $50,350 |
| Yuba City | $23.78 | $49,460 |
source: data.bls.gov
Highest Salaries in Urban Tech Hubs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has the highest reported salary, with an hourly wage of $32.04 and an annual salary of $66,640. This is likely due to the high cost of living in Silicon Valley and strong demand for healthcare professionals in the region.
San Francisco and Santa Rosa Also Pay Well
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward ($29.81/hr, $62,000) and Santa Rosa ($30.13/hr, $62,680) also offer some of the highest salaries, reflecting the higher cost of living in the Bay Area.
Lowest Salaries in Los Angeles and Inland Areas
The lowest salaries are in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ($22.78/hr, $47,390) and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ($23.17/hr, $48,190). This suggests that competition in these populous areas may be keeping wages slightly lower.
Occupation: Dental Assistants(SOC Code319091)
source: data.bls.gov
Job Description
Job listings require a strong knowledge of dental tools, the ability to work well with others, excellent customer service skills, calm sense of being even when stressed, and the ability to solve problems independently.
Dentists want assistants who require little prompting to get the work completed in a timely manner. As many tasks require precision details, a steady hand is often necessary.
Things like removing stitches or applying sealants could injure a patient if the dental assistant has shaky hands.
Related:
Dental Assistant vs Dental Hygienist
Employer Expectations
Technical Skills and Certifications
Employers in California require dental assistants to have strong technical skills, including chairside assistance, radiography, sterilization techniques, and knowledge of dental materials and instruments.
Many positions, such as those at UCSF School of Dentistry and USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, expect candidates to be proficient in infection control procedures, four-handed dentistry, and patient preparation.
Additionally, a Radiation Safety License from the Dental Board of California is often required for taking dental X-rays.
CPR/BLS certification is a common prerequisite, with institutions like Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and Rinse Dental prioritizing candidates who hold valid life support training.
Some employers, such as Santa Barbara Dental Spa, prefer assistants who have experience with oral surgery, endodontics, and implant procedures.
Work Environment and Duties
Dental assistants in California work in diverse settings, including university clinics, private practices, hospitals, and specialty dental centers. For example, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) hires assistants to support students in a high-volume clinic, sterilize equipment, and maintain inventory.
Similarly, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services seeks assistants for roles in hospitals, emergency rooms, and acute care settings, requiring a broader scope of medical knowledge.
In private practice, dental assistants at Precise Orthodontics and Monrovia Dentalcare assist with patient scheduling, taking impressions, and maintaining digital records. Specialized clinics like Rinse Dental emphasize preventative dentistry, requiring assistants to educate patients on oral hygiene and caries prevention.
Patient Interaction and Communication
Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as dental assistants frequently interact with patients. Employers like USC and UCSF prioritize bilingual candidates, particularly those fluent in Spanish, to better serve diverse patient populations. Many roles, including those at Rinse Dental, require assistants to comfort and reassure patients, explain post-treatment care, and ensure a positive experience.
Crossover with Other Healthcare Fields
Dental assistants often collaborate with oral surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, and periodontists.
Positions at USC’s Pediatric Dentistry team require assisting with sedation and operating room procedures, while Los Angeles County DHS employs dental assistants in hospital environments, working alongside general healthcare professionals. These roles may involve responsibilities similar to medical assistants, such as record-keeping, patient education, and sterilization protocols.
Advancement and Career Growth
Many dental assistants in California gain on-the-job training that can lead to career advancement. Those who pursue additional certifications, such as Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) licensure, may qualify for higher-paying roles at clinics like Santa Barbara Dental Spa, which requires knowledge of implants, root canals, and advanced restorative procedures
Positions at institutions like UCSF and USC also offer exposure to teaching clinics and research facilities, providing a path into dental hygiene or dental school.
Conclusion
California employers seek dental assistants who are technically skilled, certified in radiation safety and CPR, and capable of working in various dental settings. Strong communication, organizational skills, and adaptability to different specialties are highly valued. Whether assisting in academic institutions, private practices, or hospital settings, dental assistants play a critical role in ensuring efficient and high-quality patient care.